Seal tag



April 3, 1945. EA. CONAWAY ET A-L 2,372,811

SEAL TAG Filed April 15, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l 177205234. 6 07242 wa L/iearz 15. Corzaz zz/ zy April 1945- E. A. CONAWAY ET AL- 2,372,811

SEAL TAG Filed April 15, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Jean ff Coma/c2 Patented Apr. 3, 1945 OFFICEY SEAL TAG Ernest A. Conaway and Jean Conaway, Chicago, 11!.

Application April 13, 1942, Serial No. 438,710

9 Claims.- (01. 40-41) The present invention relates to a seal tag which has been particularly devised to be applicable to different types of luggage, parcels, and packages, in order to carry out and operate the present day systems which have been established for redcaps or ushers at the railway stations, baggage rooms or in other places providing travel accommodations. The same or a similar seal tag may be used to seal boxes or other containers, or may be applied to doors such as freight car doors or the like.

The seal tag of the present invention is provided with a relatively long band having a tongue member at one end thereof with a suitable reception pocket for the tongue at the other end of said band. In addition, the pocket and tongue are provided with cooperating locking elements which will hold the tongue against removal from within the pocket after the tag has been attached to a piece of luggage, a parcel or a package. A

portion of the tongue has been extended to form a receipt stub which is detachably secured to the end of the tongue, such receipt being removed by tearing along perforations, the latter having been so provided and situated that upon attach ing the tag to a bag or the like, the tongue is moved sumciently far enough through the pocket to expose the perforations mentioned. Subsequently upon removing the receipt hereinbefore referred to, any reversal of motion of the tongue within the pocket will definitely lock the tongue therein to provide a tamperproof seal which cannot be removed subsequently without such defac'ement as to be substantially and openly noticeable.

Obviously, suitable printing and identification numbers will appear in duplicate upon the receipt and upon some portion of the remaining body of the tag as a positive means of identification.

One of the main objects therefore, of the present invention is to provide a comparatively but very efiective seal tag of the nature described.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a, tag wherein all the operable features and the cooperative looking or latching units can be provided and made from one kind of material and its assembly elfected through the use of one orv more of the common types of oifice staples:

All other objects and advantages inherent in the device of this invention shall be hereinafter explained and referred to in the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the disclosures illustrated in the accompanying drawmgs.

In thedrawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a piece of luggage illustrating a seal tag applied to the handle and in position for removal of the receipt therefrom.

Fig. 2 is a general face view of'the seal tag;

Fig. 3 illustrates the blank from which the ta is made.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 show three of the possible looking combinations of the tongue within the pocket.

Fig. 7 is a central cross-sectional view taken substantially along theline '|-l in Fig. 4;

Fig. 8' is a transverse cross-section taken substantially along the line 8-8'in Fig. 5.-

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view of a modifiedform of blank, and

Fig. 10 is an inner view of the-pocket member of a tag embodying the modified form illustrated inFig.9. I I 1 In the preferred form of seal tag construction and referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the tag is preferably made from fairly stifi paper. although other materials. or combinations of materials are contemplated and the tag consists of a main body or band member II having a tongue l2 at. one'end thereof and a pocket forming unit I3 atjthe other end thereof. I

The exterior of the pocket 13 is formed-bythe two facing members I5 and IB' adapted tobe folded along the line I! and stapled together at the free edges thereof by means of the staples I8 shown in Fig. 2. It should be noted that in .Fig. 3 the face member I5 and band I I are contiguous and that the two face members I5 and I6 are likewise contiguous. I Y

The looking or latching units are folded and disposed within the pocket member I3 as best illustrated in Figure 3 and are formed of a body member 20. having 'a central tongue member 2| and two laterally disposed flaps 22 and 23. The aforesaidelements 20 to 23 inclusive are all con: tiguous with each other and with the face member I6. In order to make the locking members operative and to dispose the same in expanded operable position the face members I5 and I6 of the pockets I3,'the flaps 22 and 23 as viewed in Fig. 3 are folded upwardly and over into the dotted line positions shown andsubsequently the entire latching unit is then folded about the fold line 2'! upwardly out of the plane of paper and toward the face member I6 By holding the latching units against the inner face of the member I6 and folding .theface member Iii toward member I5 about the fold line I! and stapling at I8 the latching units will be confined and. dis: posed in operative position Withinthepocket l3.

It is through thenaturallatent resiliencyof the paper employed that the flaps 22 and 23 react against the face or wall It of the pocket l3 to hold the latching units and the tongue 2| away from the surface of the face or wall l3 when such units are in operative position and they are urged against the surface of the face or wall l5. To augment the latching relation of the tongue 2| within the pocket 3 score line has been provided at 28 so that the tip of the tongue can be slightly bent in a direction as to insure keeping the tongue against the surface of the facing or wall of the pocket l3 and readily adapted to be engaged by means which will hereinafter be described. Also, by providing the slots 30 and. 3| in the body of member adjacent the tongue 2| three main latching elements are formed consisting of two spaced pockets and a tongue in spaced relation therebetween.

The tongue end l2 has been provided to constitute tongue member 32 and a receipt ticket or stub portion 33 detachably connected to the tongue member 32 along the perforations 35. The tongue member 32 is also provided with a suitable opening 36 and with a pair of spaced shoulders 31--31 as best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.

The receipt stub 33 has whatever identificatlon numbers are necessary printed thereon which numbers appear in duplicate upon the body portion of the seal tag. Fig. 1 shows by way of illustration a pair of matched numbers which appear on the stub and upon one or both faces of the pocket member l3. Obviously, the tas and receipt may contain whatever information or recording date that may be required by the particular railroad or station company issuing the particular seal tag in question.

In applying the tag to a piece of luggage or other parcel the band is looped about the handle or cord or other fastening means provided or available and the tongue I2 is inserted into the band end of the pocket which is the perfectly natural position to perform this operation. The tongue I2 is then moved through the pocket I3 far enough to expose the perforations 35 beyond the open end of the pocket as best illustrated in Fig. l whereupon the receipt or stub end 33 of the tongue may be torn from the tag.

Any reversal of motion of the tongue will automatically latch the same within the pocket or any subsequent attempt to remove the tag from the bag will cause such automatic latching unless the tag is removed by force which will obviously be indicated by the destruction of the tag or some portion thereof.

In the case of a redcap or usher the receipt or stub torn on of the tag is handed to the passenger who subsequently returns the same to the redcap or usher when the parcel or baggage or piece of luggage has been deposited at the destination designated by the passenger. The returned receipts or stubs are then accumulated or kept in the manner designated until the close of the day's work whereupon the redcap or usher turns in these receipts to the baggage agent for recording and to provide the means for determining the compensation of the men engaged in the baggage carrying business.

Referring now to Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 8, several ways of locking the tongue within the pocket are illustrated and the possibilities of a foolproof locking engagement between the members referred to becomes readily apparent. In Fig. 4 reversal of movement of the band and its corresponding tongue 32 within the pocket |3 has caused the tongue 2| of the latching means to slip into the opening 36 to prevent withdrawal of the tongue 32 from within the pocket |3.

For convenience of further explanation in connection with Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 8, the laterally spaced pockets formd by the folding of the flaps 22 and 23 have been designated generally by the letters A and B, such pockets being disposed in spaced relation to the tongue 2| and laterally thereof through the provision of slots 33 and 3| as best illustrated in the figures hereinbefore referred to. The pockets A and B form guide means for directing the shoulders 31-31 into one or both of the slots 30 or 3|.

In Fig. 5, therefore, the tongue 32 is illustrated as being disposed within the pockets A and B although it might be lodged in either A or B independently, further outward movement of the tongue 32 from within the main pocket I 3 being stopped by reason of the shoulders 3131 having been hooked through the slots 30 and 3| as shown in Fig. 5. Also, in Fig. 5, the tongue 2| has entered the opening 36 in the tongue 32 in the manner shown.

In Fig. 6 the latching tongue 2| is hypothetically shown as having avoided the opening 36 in the main tongue 32 entirely while the shoulders 31-31 are hooked through the slots 30 and 3| as in Fig. 5 and disposing the main tongue 32 in front of the tongue 2| in the manner shown. Obviously, in Fig. 6 the main tongue 32 also could be hooked into one or the other of the pockets A and B and in this connection any combination of the foregoing described ways of latching the main tongue 32 within the pocket l3 will be apparent by those skilled in the art and are contemplated with the present tag.

Although not shown, there is also another pos sibility of locking the tongue within the pocket l3 which may be a temporary situation, but the shoulders 31--31 of tongue 32 could also catch upon the upper edges C of the pockets A and B as shown in Fig. 6. This would also prevent Withdrawal of the tongue .32 from within the pocket l3 but oboviously further movement or relative movement of the tongue 32 within the pocket |3 would naturally cause the tongue 32 to lock into one of the lower positions within the pocket l3 as has been illustrated in Figs. 4 to 6 and as fully described.

Another feature of the present invention resides in the tapering of the pocket l3 as at 40-40 and the corresponding tapering of the tongue 32 indicated at 4|4| on each side thereof. When inserting the main tongue 32 into the pocket I 3 the taper of the tongue 32 provides a substantial means for limiting the movement of the tongue 32 through the pocket |3 under all normal conditions. This limitation in movement has been incorporated in the present seal tag as a guiding and movement limiting feature wherein the ticket or the stub member 33 will be disposed with the perforation 35 just beyond the upper edge 42 of the pocket member I3 and in proper position for removal of the ticket or stub 33. These same tapered edges 4fl-4|l and 4|-4| also coact to position the tongue 32 at a point within the pocket I3 to substantially insure the latching of the tongue 32 within the pocket l3 when the tongue 32 has its motion reversed within the pocket l3. In this connection it should also be mentioned that if by any chance the tongue member 32 with its corresponding ticket stub 33 is forced far enough through the pocket so that the shoulders 3l3'l of the tongue32 pass beyond the edge 42 of the pocket l3, shoulders 31 will lock or catch against the upperedge 42 of the pocket l3 thereby also preventing the removal of the seal tag from the parcel or piece of luggage to which it is attached.

The modified form of tag illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10 is substantially the same as in'the preferred form with the exception that the flaps '22 and 23 have been developed as flaps 45 and 4-6 having elongated ears or extension 41 and 48 respectively. When the unit of the latter construction is folded and disposed within the pocket 13, as shown in Fig. 10', the extensions 41 and 48 provide additional means for holding the latching members expanded and against the face l5 of the pocket l3. This of course is due to the fact that the extensions 4! and 48 act considerably remote from the fold line 21 of the latching unit producing additional leverage so to speak for urging the unit upwardly inthe manner described.

Other changes or structural variations are con templated in the device, and the illustrations shown and the description relating thereto is only given by way of example. The extent of variations and changes shall of course be governed by the breadth and scope of the appended claims.

What we claim a new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a tag of the class described, a connecting element, a tongue member contiguous therewith, a pocket member contiguous therewith, said tongue member comprising a latch unit having a receipt stub detachably connected thereto, said pocket member comprising a first wall contiguous with said connecting element, a second wall contiguous with said first wall, folded thereon with the free edges of the two walls secured together to provide the pocket, latch locking units connected with an edge of the second named wall and folded into said pocket, and adapted for holding said latch unit when the latter is inserted into said pocket member, and flaps connected with said latch locking units to normally position the same in looking engagement within said pocket.

4 2. In a tag of the class described, a main pocket member, a tongue member, means connecting said members, latching units carried within said main pocket member to hold the tongue member within the pocket member, said latching units comprising spaced auxiliary pockets and a locking projection disposed therebetween, means for operatively expanding said auxiliary pockets within said main pocket member into operable latching position, and cooperative latching means formed on said tongue member for engagement with one or more of said pocket member latching units and with said projection as the motion of the tongue member is reversed after insertion into said main pocket member, said tongue member including a detachable portion disposed beyond the limits of said pocket member for identification purposes.

3. In a tag of the class described, a pocket member, a tongue member, means connecting said members, latching units carried within said pocket member to hold the tongue member within the pocket member, said latching units comprising spaced receptacles and a-locking projection, resilient connecting mean for expanding and urging said spaced receptacle into latching position within said pocket member, and cooperative latching means carried by said tongue member receptacles and said projection as the motion of the tongue, member is reversed after insertion into said pocket member.

4. In a tag of the class described, apocket member, a tongue member, means connecting said members, latching units carried within said pocket member'to hold the tongue member within the pocket member, said latching units comprising one or more receptacles and a locking projection therebetween, said receptacles including flap members connected with the individual latching units for resiliently disposing the same for latching engagement by said tongue member and at spaced points within said pocket member, and cooperative latching means carried by said tongue member for engagement with one or more of said latching units as the motion of the tongue member is reversed after. insertion into aid pocket member.

5. In a tag member, a tongue member, means connecting said members, latching units carried within said pocket member to hold the tongue member within the pocket member, said latching units of said pocket member comprising spaced receptacles and a locking projection disposed in spaced relation therebetween, means for urging all of said pocket member latching units toward one side wall of said pocket member, said latter means including for engagement with one or more of said spaced said locking projection, and flap members connected with certain of said pocket member latching units to further urge them against the same side wall of said pocket member and at points spaced laterally of said locking projection, and cooperative latching means formed on said tongue member for engagement with one or more of said latching units as the motion of the tongue member is reversed after insertion into said pocket member.

6. In a tag, a securing band, an open ended pocket with tapered sides connected with one end of said band and a tapered tongue at the other end thereof, said pocket comprising a pair of opposing walls and a plurality of latching members connected with one wall and projecting into said pocket, and means carried by said tongue for engaging one or more of said latching members after insertion into said pocket, said tapered sides of said pocket and the tapered tongue cooperating to provide means for limiting the movement of said tongue through said pocket and to stop the tongue in latching relation within said pocket.

7. In an identification tag, a band, a pocket at one end of said band and a tongue at the other end thereof, said pocket comprising a pair of opposing walls adapted for receiving said tongue therebetween, and latch means connected with one pocket wall at the tongue receiving edge thereof and projecting inwardly of said pocket. said latch means having resilient flap members connected therewith to urge the same against the opposite wall and in latching relation within said pocket, said tongue being insertable into said pocket between said opposite wall and said latch means whereby withdrawal of said tongue is pre vented by said latch means.

8. In an identification tag, a band, a pocket at one end of said band and a tongue at the other end thereof, said pocket comprising a pair of walls adapted for receiving the tongue therebetween. and a plurality of latch members connected with one wall of the pocket atthe tongue receiving edge thereof and projecting inwardly of the pocket, said latch members providing a projection and transverse shoulders within said pocket, said of the class described, a pocket tongue being insertable into saidpocket and having an opening therein and complementary shoulders to engage respectively with said projection and transverse shoulders of the latch members to prevent withdrawal of said tongue from said pocket after insertion.

9. An identification tag composed of a single piece of pliable material and comprising a band, a pocket member at one end of said band and comprising a first Wall contiguou with the band and a second wall contiguous with the first named 

